Footprints are the tracks left by a Pokémon. Each Pokémon has a unique footprint that is displayed in the Pokédex of every game since being introduced in Generation II. However, this is only applied to Pokémon with visible legs. Out of the 649 Pokémon in Generation V, 150 do not have a footprint.

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In the games

When a Pokémon is caught, its footprint is included in the data added to its entry and can be found on the first page. For those without a footprint, the area footprints are displayed on remains blank.

At the start of Ruby and Sapphire, a School Kid initially blocks the entrance to Route 102 as he thinks he has found the footprints of a rare Pokémon there. It later turns out that they were his own.

Dr. Footstep

Dr. Footstep on Route 213 in Sinnoh is a footprint expert, and can evaluate a Pokémon's friendship simply by looking at its tracks. He will hand out a Ribbon to Pokémon with a high friendship value. Even Pokémon who do not have a footprint can be tested to get the Ribbon. Dr. Footstep has four different ratings on Pokémon friendship. These reflect the amount and size of hearts shown on the Friendship Pokétch application. The quotes vary depending on which Pokémon is being examined. Different Pokémon have different sets of responses, such as Ghost-type Pokémon saying that they are scary and shunned, and inorganic Pokémon such as Magnemite only make the noise "Sssshhnnn". If a Pokémon receives a Level 4 rating, Dr. Footstep will award it a Footprint Ribbon.

Wigglytuff Guild

Wigglytuff Guild in Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Time and Explorers of Darkness judges a Pokémon's worth by its footprint. Before being allowed to enter, a Pokémon must stand on a grate in front of the guild entrance and have their footprint identified. Visitors or Guild members have to step on the grate to let the sentry (usually Diglett) verify whether they are wanted Pokémon. At a couple of points during the storyline and at any time after graduating, the player takes part in this sentry duty. It plays out as a mini-game where a series of Pokémon must be identified by their footprints, though more clues are provided over time. The game also notes the Pokémon who lack footprints in the scene where Dusknoir visits the guild.

Wi-Fi Plaza

In the Wi-Fi Plaza, there are two long boards that several people can get access to. On these boards, the player has the ability to select one of six footprint types. Once the type has been selected, touching the canvas with the stylus can place footprints at will. The other people will also be doing this. The footprints will quickly go and walk off the canvas after the player has placed them.

Pokémon Dream World

In the Pokémon Dream World, when a player visits another's home, they leave the footprint of their Pokémon on the Footprint Mat. Clicking these footprints provides information about the visitor. They will flash when the visitor has made a Dream Pal request.